MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan softball team used a nine-run sixth inning to rally for a 10-2 win in six innings at Central Michigan on a chilly Tuesday afternoon (April 17) at Margo Jonker Stadium.

Freshman LHP Haylie Wagner(Orange, Calif./El Modena) picked up the win in relief, throwing 3.0 innings and allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts. Offensively, Michigan did not have a baserunner until the fourth inning when sophomore outfielder Nicole Sappingfield(Norco, Calif./Norco) singled. U-M finished with 10 hits in the game, led by Sappingfield's 3-for-4 performance and a two-hit contest by sophomore outfielder Lyndsay Doyle(Channahon, Ill./Minooka Community).

The Chippewas were the first team to strike, scoring a run in the third inning on a solo shot to right-centerfield for a 1-0 lead.

Michigan answered in the fourth inning with a run, as Sappingfield singled to left field for Michigan's first hit of the contest. Senior first baseman Amanda Chidester's (Allen Park, Mich./Cabrini) grounder was mishandled by the CMU third baseman, giving junior second baseman Ashley Lane(Escondido, Calif./Escondido) runners at first and second. She hit a chopper up the middle to score Sappingfield from second for the tying run.

Michigan brought 14 batters to the plate in a nine-run sixth inning, as the Wolverines totaled eight hits in the frame. Doyle led off with a single to the shortstop, scoring when Chidester smacked a double to right-center. Lane knocked in another run on a fielder's choice to the shortstop as Sappingfield was called safe at home on interference by the catcher.

Freshman RHP Sara Driesenga(Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) doubled over the centerfielder's head for another two runs as Michigan's lead grew to 5-1. Junior shortstop Amy Knapp(St. Joseph, Mich./Lakeshore) doubled as two more runners crossed home plate to force a CMU pitching change. Freshman catcher Lauren Sweet(Corona, Calif./Santiago) followed with a single, and on a double-steal attempt, Knapp crossed the plate when the catcher's throw hit her helmet, allowing her make it home for an 8-1 advantage.

Sappingfield singled for another run, before Chidester's fielder's choice to the shortstop accounted for Michigan's ninth tally of the game. Michigan completed its nine-run inning when Lane's groundout to the third baseman plated Doyle from third for a 10-1 lead.

CMU scored a run in the bottom half of the inning but could get no closer as Michigan took the 10-2, six-inning victory.

Michigan returns to Big Ten action this weekend (April 21-22), traveling to Minnesota for a three-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday (April 21) at 1 p.m. CDT, with the series finale slated for Sunday (April 22) at 1 p.m. CDT.